Master the next steps after product research on Amazon. Learn how Virtual Assistants can verify patents, choose the right competitors, vet suppliers, and prepare products for launch. A complete guide to smarter, safer Amazon selling.
.png "Amazon Product Hunting Post-Research Tasks and Competitor Selection")
Amazon Product Hunting Post-Research Tasks and Competitor Selection
Introduction
In this lecture, we build on product
research by exploring the essential steps after discovering a viable
product idea. As a Virtual Assistant (VA), your role now expands to include
vetting intellectual property, defining competitive benchmarks, and preparing
the product for launch. These tasks ensure your client avoids costly mistakes and
positions their brand for success.
You will learn to:
- Select a primary competitor realistically
- Verify intellectual property clearance
- Define supplier selection criteria
- Manage manufacturing requirements
- Draft a complete task checklist that VA clients find
invaluable
Patent and Intellectual Property Verification
Why Patent Checks Matter
- Product ideas globally may already be patented
- Building inventory without clearance exposes clients to
legal disputes and financial loss
- Suppliers may offer revised designs to bypass existing
patents, but the risk remains
Patent Search Approaches
- Professional Patenting Services: Hire 2 freelancers (Fiverr/Upwork) for thorough
checks in key markets (US, UK); total cost not to exceed $10–15 per
product
- DIY Patent Screening: Use freely available resources like Google Patents and the USPTO database
Manual
Steps:
- Navigate to patents.google.com
- Search using your keyword (e.g., "over-sink
rack")
- Review active or expired listings, including filing,
granting dates, and diagrams
- Export PDF of relevant patents
- Identify whether your product infringes or needs design
alterations to avoid infringement
When a Pro Is Necessary
- VA findings alone may not meet client standards
- Professionals offer credibility and can clearly state
if there's a conflict or workaround
- Use results to inform supplier designs or branding
adaptations
Selecting Your Main Competitor
Your main competitor establishes the
benchmark your listing will compete against. This informs pricing, review
strategy, and listing finesse.
Criteria from Lecture 1
- Must rank organically within top 5 for your target
keyword
- Review count should ideally be under 150, up to
200 at most, to make competing feasible
- Competitor must be a small-to-medium seller—not a
market-dominant brand
Rationale
- High-review sellers (5k–10k+) are unassailable without
massive investment
- A realistic competitor allows your client to challenge
for ranking using fewer resources
Tool Assistance
- Install and use Jungle Scout browser extension
to identify top organic sellers for your keyword uspto. govjunglescout.com +1mds.co +1junglescout.com +1ecomva.com +1
- Turn off Sponsored Ads filter
- Collect data: review count, revenue, SKU variants, BSR
Real Case Example
- Keyword: “Magic dish washing glass”
- Jungle Scout reveals 2nd ranked seller has 137 reviews
and $6,600 in monthly revenue
- Criteria check passed: less than 150 reviews, solid
revenue, no big-brand dominance, organic ranking
Data to Collect for Each Competitor
- ASIN
- Review count
- Average rating
- Estimated monthly sales
- BSR
- Listing quality (images, bullet points, SEO)
- Price and shipping options
What Happens Next: Post-Competitor Selection
With your main competitor
identified:
- Track their performance regularly (sales, pricing, review growth using Jungle Scout or
Seller Assistant) myamazonguy.com
- Monitor Buy Box presence to assess competitiveness
- Scan their listing content:
- Keywords used (via Helium 10 Cerebro or manual
analysis)
- Listing structure and SEO
- Collect product samples if possible to evaluate quality, discover unique
features, and inform your branding strategy
Supplier Criteria and Selection (Alibaba-Based)
A reliable supplier is key. Your
criteria should focus on:
- Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)
- Pricing tiers at different quantities
- Production lead times
(ideally under 15 days)
- Quality control processes and proofreading
- Compliance with patent-safe designs
Supplier Shortlist
- Connect with 5–10 suppliers for quotes
- Confirm they can deliver product prior to committing to
inventory
- Ask explicitly about manufacturing modifications to
avoid patent concerns
Manufacturing and Order Placement
What to Include in the Order
- Finalized product designs (with patent-safe changes)
- Packaging and labeling instructions, including FNSKU
- Quality assurance steps before shipping
- Logistics Preparation
- Determine shipping type based on product weight
- Prepare Amazon FBA shipment plan ahead of inventory
dispatch
- Offer guidance on shipping costs vs. speed
Practical VA Task Checklist
- Product Research Completed
- Patent Check:
- engage professionals + manual screening
- document findings
- Main Competitor Selected
- gather data via Jungle Scout
- confirm fit with criteria
- Supplier Shortlist
- quotes, lead times, MOQ gathered
- Product Sample Requested
- for validation and listing enhancement
- Order Requirements Built
- finalized artwork, packaging, labeling
- Shipping & FBA Plan Drafted
- Client Debrief Session
- review selections, results, and next steps
Summary and Next Steps
This session equipped you with the
critical skills to guide clients post-product research — ensuring they proceed
legally, competitively, and efficiently.
In the next lecture we’ll cover:
- Developing listing copy and SEO-rich bullet points
- Mapping launch strategies, including giveaways and PPC
- Supplier vetting beyond Alibaba, including factory
audits
